Abdi Warsame

We’ve been hearing a lot this week about the struggles, perceptions and realities of Somali-Americans living in the Twin Cities. But along with the difficulties, there are many success stories to be told. WCCO’s Laura Oakes introduces us to a few in our last installment of “Home Grown: The Somali-American Struggle.”

Shoppers at the Mall of America seem undeterred after hearing about a video purportedly made by al-Qaida-linked rebels that urges Muslims to attack shopping malls. The video specifically mentions the Bloomington shopping mall.

A non-profit, accused of using grant money to fund lavish trips and a Costco membership, was shut down by the state on Friday. The state is seeking $600,000 back from Community Action of Minneapolis. The agency helps low-income families with heating bills and works to find people jobs.

On Primary Election Day, there’s a Minneapolis race for the statehouse that’s had shoving matches, fist fights and claims of voter intimidation. That’s why the city is doing something it has never done before. Sergeants-at-arms have been assigned at polling places in key precincts to make sure there are no problems.

Minneapolis has legalized the operation of transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, but on the condition they follow many of the same requirements as taxi companies. According to city officials, Minneapolis council members also voted to modernize the city’s taxi ordinances, which have been in place since the early 1980s.

More rounds of vote counting are underway at Minneapolis City Hall as the state’s largest city looks to crown a new mayor. Democratic City Council member Betsy Hodges held a wide lead but was still short Wednesday of the threshold needed to win.

Voters in Minneapolis have sent a Somali-American to their city council for the first time, a sign of the immigrant community’s growing strength in the city. Abdi Warsame took 64 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, well ahead of incumbent Robert Lilligren.